Two men were shot Thursday night in a northeast Canton neighborhood and police are investigating to determine whether the shootings are related.

Romale Fowler, 31, of Fourth Street NE, told police he was walking in the 1400 block of St. Elmo Avenue about 9:30 p.m. Thursday when he was approached by two men he didn't know, said Capt. Dave Davis, who heads the Detective Bureau. The men then opened fire on him, striking him in the chest and arm, Davis said.

A Carroll County man saw Fowler lying along the road, picked him up and took him to Mercy Medical Center, the captain said. Fowler was later transported to Akron General Medical Center.

His condition was not available.

Davis said that a short time later, a woman in the 1400 block of St. Elmo reported that her boyfriend had stepped out of the house and returned with a gunshot wound to the face.

Shawntez Block, 41, who lives on St. Elmo, was taken to Mercy Medical Center, but detectives did not suspect his injury was life-threatening, Davis said.

Davis said the suspects were described only as a black man and a white man, one of which was driving a Buick sport-utility vehicle that was white on the top and tan on the bottom.

"We're still investigating whether or not these (shootings) are related," Davis said. "Preliminarily, we don't know. They happened in such a short period of time. However, the victims are saying they don't know each other. So we're still looking at that."

He asked that anyone with information about the shooting or the gunmen to call detectives at 330-489-3144.

Callers may also text the police department's anonymous tip411 system by texting the word CANTON and then the message 847411.